Congressman Todd Akin is seeking election to the U. S. Senate in this year’s most competitive Senate race in Missouri.

Perhaps the biggest mistake he made was unveiling his level of idiocy and lack of knowledge regarding a woman’s anatomy while having a wife and two daughters.

What qualifies him is not medicine, but his emphatic truism, which he claims is from doctors, that if it is a ‘legitimate rape’ we have within our bodies ways which will “shut the whole thing down.” He also believes that if it does not shut down while the rape is in progress, and the woman is impregnated, that there should be some punishment for the rapist, and not the child.

Ladies with some sanity and sense of morality, let’s do a reality check for Akin: as women we do not and never will have this automatic ‘shut down button’ in our brain to stop a pregnancy while being raped.

The U. S. Senate does not need conservative, white male politicians like Akin making health care decisions for women. That decision making belong to us.

Instead of uttering preposterous mandates, Akin and other like minded politicians should acknowledge us, hear us, and join us to develop good health care practices and fully funded programs for women, their children, and their families.

With the success of girls and women medalists at the Summer Olympics, age was not a factor.

The youngest, Katie Ledecky, is 15 years of age from Bethesda, Maryland.

Gabby Douglass , America’s Golden Girl, is 16 and became the first African-American to win the Women’s All Around Gymnastics Competition.

Missy Franklin, age 17, broke the world record and won the 200 meter backstroke.

The most rewarding factor for those young girls is that they are still in high school. They were able to train and compete because 40 years ago, Title IX of the Civil Rights Act was enacted into law, and removed the barriers girls faced in the schools to engage in competitive sports.

Chris: it is apparent from your comment about Rihanna speaking out that your community service and other mandates by the Judge after three years, that you are lacking something which is very important-respect and humility towards women.

For the remaining two years of probation, perhaps you need to change your lane, visit shelters for battered and abused women, and families who lost their mothers, grandmothers, and other loved ones because of domestic abuse and violence by men like you.

Your comment: “I am tired of Rihanna talking about this, she needs to let this go, “ is easy for you to say because mentally you want it to go away. But, for Rihanna, it is not that easy. Forgiving and forgetting comes with time and results from appropriate help and counseling. Apparently, she is not there yet.

Is ‘this’ all that the horrible incident of violence means to you as a person, celebrity, and a young African American man which has been a successful entertainer?

I wonder if you would still feel the same way if ‘this’ had happened to your sister or mother?

It is said: ‘you need to check your self’ regarding your concerns about Rihanna retelling her story about your violent abuse and explosive temper before you wreck yourself and your career again, remember?

And, those women even today endure the ravages of domestic abuse and violence!

Rihanna’s ordeal will help leverage bipartisan political support to renew funding for the Violence Against Women Act. Her tragic experience with violence, like the experience of other women, is real and horribly everlasting.

I commend Rihanna for her courage and openness which enabled her to recount her ordeal for all of America to hear; and, which included a salient factor-Chris Brown, her abuser, needs help. The need for help and counseling applies to other men who are abusers.

Her tears reflect hurtful memories of the brutal assault which still pervades her heart and mind. Like Rihanna, many abused women have those memories. As survivors, abused women continue to be abused.

Rihanna did what many women should do, but do not do enough. She reported this violent incident to the police. She got on the road of healing herself by recognizing that it was not her fault because Chris Brown needs appropriate behavioral/ domestic counseling.

Your interview will serve as a poignant reminder that as women, we have rights and a support system to deal with a domestic violence crisis including programs, relatives, and friends. Your show gave us a critical path to follow to end this level of violence.

And for Rihanna: It’s I Can, You Can, We Can!

Way to go!!

I have a message for expectant and parenting young mothers who have been abused.

As the former Director of The Paquin School for Expectant and Parenting Adolescents and Their Children, which was a Baltimore City Public Middle/ Secondary High School for Girls, on-site Pre-School Programs for their children, and part of my experience included teaching young girls, other women in their families, boyfriends, and young fathers that violence should not be a part of their family life.

Remember, if you are the victim of abuse, you have rights.

First, call the police and report the abuse.

Second, embrace and reach out to your family and friends.

Third, take advantage of the physical and mental health programs and prevention programs, like those which were offered at Paquin, with a staff of appropriate professionals who can help you.

One of life’s values taught at Paquin which you should embrace is that besides the importance of your education and the welfare of your child, the fact that even though we were not born together, as women we are better working together!

* Programs to meet the needs of immigrant women and women of different races or ethnicities

*Programs and services for victims with disabilities, and Legal Aid for survivors.

Due to importance of this act and the programs and services it provides for women, and its renewal this year, 2012, which may be stalled, the situation gives us another reason to vote this November.

For the hundreds of women who were able to use these services and programs to renew their lives or families , and for those who have friends and family members who need, or were saved by this act, we have another reason to show up, to stand up, and to vote on November 6th.

She astonished onlookers when she won her first major international event from start to finish in the Women’s 800 Meter Free Style Final last Friday, August 3, 2012 breaking Janet Evans 23 year old record in 8 minutes, 14.63 seconds.

A half second from breaking the world record, Missy Franklin, 17 years old maintained utter dominance to win the 200 meter backstroke, and breaking the world record, and defeating the second –place finisher by nearly two seconds!

There’s only one word to describe their accomplishments for the United States 2012 Olympic Teams, their families, friends, and their states:

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best part and value of these competitions for girls and women, is that there is more to come in future years. We need to give them our full support.

My last words: ‘Let’s Hear It For Our Girls And Women.’

WOMEN: Do not forget to encourage our younger girls to watch important sports events with you.

Hats off to his wonderful and loving mother, Ms. Debbie Davisson Phelps, and his supportive family and friends for the love and support which have allowed him to grow as a young boy and a strong young man. He was enabled to face the growing changes that life brings to our youth. He developed a positive message to disregard and understand unacceptable behaviors, apologize where needed, and continue to move forward as he has done for his self, his family, and his global fans.

That was apparent from the touching moments when he was captured on television networks looking at his family in the stands for their visual support and applause.